The Jacqueline & George Ohrstrom Jr. barn was dedicated this weekend at the Virginia Horse Center, where the couple was saluted by Roxanne Booth, president of the Virginia Horse Center.
“Together, the Ohrstroms built an impeccable reputation on the love of all things horse. Their philanthropic endeavors touch countless lives—equine and human—and they were champions of land conservation long before it was in vogue. The Ohrstroms were instrumental in establishing the National Sporting Library and Museum, and truly the list goes on.”
If the name Ohrstrom sounds familiar, there is a reason why.
George Ohrstrom Jr. owned the Chronicle of the Horse for 50 years and was a prominent figure in the racing and foxhunting communities, as well as a supporter of land conservation efforts, especially those of the Piedmont Environmental Council.
He was a member of and a major landowner in the Orange County Hunt near The Plains, Va., and in 1992, he founded the Bath County Hounds, a private pack headquartered on his land in Bath County, Va. The Ohrstroms contributed to and founded in 1955, along with the late Alexander Mackay-Smith, the National Sporting Library.
In 2010, it was rebranded as the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM). Today, the NSLM Library houses 20,000 volumes, historic periodicals dating back to the early Nineteenth Century, over 80 archival collections, and an outstanding variety of antiquarian titles dating back to 1523, stored in the Library’s F. Ambrose Clark Rare Book Room. Almost every object in the Library collections was donated to NSLM, making the Library a reflection of the sporting community across the United States.
The Museum’s collection has grown to over 1,300 objects, including paintings, sculptures, works on paper, trophies, weathervanes, dog collars, and other ephemera. Two major temporary exhibitions are held during the year in the larger galleries, while the Vine Hill galleries host additional temporary exhibitions and a rotation of permanent collection artworks.
Thanking Mrs. Ohrstrom for all that she and her late husband have done for the Horse Center, Roxanne Booth added, “I hope that you consider today’s dedication of this barn a fitting tribute to Mr. Ohrstrom’s memory and as an integral part of your living legacy.”
Stephen Shank, VHC CEO; Will Phipps, B&D Builders; Anjela Carroll, Mrs. Jacqueline Ohrstrom Jr., Roxanne Booth, VHC Foundation Board President. (SCB Photography photos by Riley)
Virginia Horse Center CEO Stephen Shank said, “Naturally, none of the dream that is the Virginia Horse Center comes true without the significant support and investment of our dearest, closest friends.
“It is my distinct honor to express, on behalf of all those served by the Horse Center, my immense gratitude to Mrs. Jacqueline Ohrstrom and her late husband, George, for their loyalty and friendship. In recognition of their benevolence, we are thrilled and delighted to present the Jacqueline & George Ohrstrom Jr. Barn.
“Additionally, I want to acknowledge and thank Will Phipps, Daniel Glick and B&D Builders for the partnership on which we are embarking. Thanks to the demonstrated artistry and refined vision of B&D Builders, I know the interior of this barn will be state-of-the-art and above all, built to last for the comfort and safety of our dear horses. Mrs. Ohrstrom, we all hope you find it a fitting tribute to your lifetime of involvement in equestrianism.”
She responded, “All I can possibly say is the Horse Center is beautifully designed. The layout is great, and they have safe and comfortable barns. It is easy access from a number of states that are heavily involved with horses, and they have a lovely big ring.”